LATEST ADDITIONS  11/08/2015

CALENDAR
CLASSIC BLUES ARTWORK FROM THE 1920s - 2016 Calendar

COMPACT DISCS
FAYE ADAMS

JAMES BOOKER
BRAAGAS
LEE BROWN
MADAME EDNA GALLMAN COOKE
BOB DYLAN
RED FOLEY
ALICE GERRARD & MIKE SEEGER
HENRY GRAY
WILBERT HARRISON
THE HIGHWAY Q.C'S

B.B. KING
FREDDIE KING
LITTLE RICHARD
HARRY MCCLINTOCK
ROY NEWMAN & HIS BOYS
EDDIE NOACK
LLOYD PRICE
OTIS REDDING
BETTY SMITH
HOBART SMITH
VICTORIA SPIVEY
BETTYE SWANN
ALLEN TOUSSAINT
VARIOUS ARTISTS


IMPORTANT NOTE: We currently do not have a shopping cart. The company who handled our cart has gone out of business. However we are still handling orders and are keeping our web site up to date with new releases. You may place your orders by email (roots@toast.net), phone (toll free in USA 1-888-ROOTS-66, Elsewhere: 510-965-9503) or by mail P.O. Box 837, El Cerrito, CA 94530, USA

 
Since our Second Time Around listings are so popular this list includes some great releases which have been out for a while but you may have missed them the first time we listed them.To avoid you getting possible duplicates we have added  asterisks (**) after these particular titles. We have also included some choice sale items.

CALENDAR

 

CLASSIC BLUES ARTWORK FROM THE 1920s - 2016 Calendar Blues Images 216 ● CALENDAR $18.98
32 page calendar + 24 track CD, essential and then some
It's here - an extra special version of John Tefteller's annual blues calendar. So what's so special? John has been working with a group of filmmakers to produce a series called "American Epic" to show on PBS and the BBC in early 2016 which will explore the recording of rural music in the United States in the 1920s and 1930s. During work on the series the producers devised a whole new method of transferring and remastering old 78s that extracts the maximum amount of music with the minimum of noise and that technique (currently secret) has been used for the recordings on the CD accompanying the calendar and the result is astonishing. Apart from the almost total absence of noise the music has a vibrancy and presence that makes many of the tracks sound like the artists went into the studios yesterday. It's like a curtain has been lifted from in front of the music.
As always John delves into his phenomenal collection of blues graphics and rare 78s to present another sensational calendar and CD. This calendar (the twelfth) features reproductions of original artwork for advertisements printed in African-American newspapers in the late 20s and early 30s along with some incredibly rare photos. This calendar features 12"x12" ads for records by artists like Jim Jackson, Barbecue Bob, Ruth Willis & Curley Weaver, Blind Lemon Jefferson and more. It also includes beautiful large reproductions of rare and, in some cases, previously unpublished, photos of artists like Charlie Kyle, Papa Charlie McCoy and Ma Rainey. The calendar also includes small reproductions of another 23 ads, sample song lyrics, brief biographies and birth and death dates for many blues artists.
The accompanying 20 track CD featuring all the records advertised in the full sized ads or by the artists in the photos plus 8 bonus tracks. As mentioned above, the sound quality is streets better than any previous reissues - you can finally hear just how rich Blind Lemon Jefferson's voice is on the new remastering of 'Lectric Chair Blues and See That My Grave Is Kept. But pride of place goes to the only known copy in the world of Jaydee Short's Tar Road Blues and Flaggin' It To Georgia on Pramount which John unearthed about 18 months ago. The record was in very bad shape indeed and even with the new techniques it wasn't possible to get a completely clean sound but it is certainly listenable and is Mississippi Delta Blues of the highest order. Almost as exciting is the incredibly rare Hattie Hyde record on Victor (probably Hattie Hart accompanied by members of the Memphis Jug Band) that has never been reissued before.
Also included are full color inserts to enable you to make your own Classic Blues Artwork CD with a jewel case (jewel case not included).
Since these would make such a great gift, if you buy five or more calendars you can get them for $16.98 each!
Calendar/ CD set counts as four CDs for shipping purposes. (FS)
Note: All previously released calendars are available since the artwork never dates and the CDs are also available separately for $8.98 each.
BARBECUE BOB: Atlanta Moan/ BLACK BILLY SUNDAY: The High Cost Of Sin/ Will You Spend Eternity In Hell/ BLIND BLAKE: Wabash Rag/ JED DAVENPORT AND HIS BEALE STREET JUG BAND: Beale Street Breakdown/ HATTIE HYDE: Special Question Blues/ T & N O Blues/ JIM JACKSON: My Monday Blues/ BLIND LEMON JEFFERSON: See That My Grave Is Kept Clean/ ’Lectric Chair Blues/ BLIND WILLIE JOHNSON: When The War Was On/ CHARLIE KYLE: No Baby/ Walking Blues/ PAPA CHARLIE MCCOY: Boogie Woogie/ Country Guy Blues/ MA RAINEY: Georgia Cake Walk/ JAYDEE SHORT: Flaggin’ It To Georgia/ Tar Road Blues/ SPARK PLUG SMITH: Vampire Women/ CURLY WEAVER AND RUTH WILLIS: Some Cold Rainy Day

 

COMPACT DISCS

 
FAYE ADAMS Acrobat ACMCD 4253 Shake A Hand ● CD $13.98 $9.98
30 tracks, 77 mins, highly recommended
Great collection of 30 sides by this fine and expressive singer. Her unique high pitched squalls and gospel-like phrasings made her a million selling success in 1953 with racial integration's first major anthem, Shake A Hand which is included here. This disc features most of her Herald sides recorded between 1953 and 1956 - a blend of soulful ballads and driving rockers, most of them with the great Joe Morris Band including her other chart toppers I'll Be True and Hurts Me To My Heart and two previously unissued tracks - an early version of Takin' You Back and the unissued song Welcome Home - both fine performances. The disc opens with three of earlier sides which were issued as by the Joe Morris Orchestra including the amusing duet with Joe on That's What Makes My Baby Fat and it also includes her 1957 hit Keeper Of My Heart recorded in New Orleans with the Dave Bartholomew Band. Excellent sound and detailed notes from Bob Fisher. (FS)
FAYE ADAMS: Ain't Gonna Tell/ Angels Tell Me/ Anything For A Friend/ Anytime Anyplace Anywhere/ Crazy Mixed Up World/ Don't Forget To Smile/ Everyday/ Hammer (Keeps A Knockin')/ Happiness To My Soul/ I Owe My Heart To You/ I'll Be True/ I'm Going To Leave You/ I've Gotta Leave You/ It Hurts Me To My Heart/ Keeper Of My Heart/ My Greatest Desire/ Same Ole Me/ Say A Prayer/ Shake A Hand/ Somebody Somewhere Someday/ Sweet Talk/ Tag Along/ Takin' You Back/ Takin' You Back (early unissued version)/ Teenage Heart/ That's What Makes My Baby Fat/ Welcome Home (unissued)/ Witness To The Crime/ You Ain't Been True To Me/ Your Love (Has My Heart Burnin')

 
JAMES BOOKER DJM 10010 The Lost Paramount Tapes** ● CD $13.98
11 mins, 45 mins, highly recommended
Available again at a lower price. Originally recorded in 1973 this would have been Booker's first full length album but the original 16 track tapes were lost but in 1995 a two track mixdown turned up which forms the basis of this exceptional disc. Recorded at the Paramount studios in Hollywood it features Booker accompanied by some great New Orleans musicians like Alvin Robinson/ guitar, John Boudreuax/ drums, David Lastie/ sax and others. The material is mostly Booker favorites like Goodnight Irene/ Junco Partner and So Swell When You're Well but it doesn't matter since Booker never played the same song the same way twice. Booker's eccentric genius was in great form both vocally and instrumentally and in addition to the above does a great medley of Stormy Monday and Hound Dog, Chuck Willis's Feel So Bad and a couple of dynamite instrumentals African Gumbo and Tico Tico. Even if you already have all of Booker's discs you'll want to add this one to your collection. (FS)

 
BRAAGAS Indies Scope 508 Fuerte ● CD $19.98
12 tracks, 43 mins, highly recommended
Braagas are a five member all female group from the Czech Republic who do a wide ranging and compelling selection of songs - mostly from the Baltic states as well as farther afield. They feature songs from Bulgaria, Romania, Macedonia, etc. along with Portuguese, Jewish and Sephardic songs. Their performances are exhilarating and feature delightful vocal harmonies and they accompany themselves on mostly traditional instruments - cistern, guitar, shawm, violin, flute, percussion, etc with occasional added instrumentation. Lovely stuff. (FS)

 
LEE BROWN Document DOCD 5344 Complete Recorded Works, 1927-1940 In Chronological Ord ● CD $15.98 $10.98
24 tracks, 71 mins, strongly recommended
24 songs recorded between 1937 and 1940 by singer/ piano player Brown. The 4 earliest cuts - 2 with Sleepy John Estes/ gtr are the most down home and includes the first recording of his most popular song Little Girl, Little Girl and he was to recorded several variations on this song over the next few years. The later tracks find him with various small groups some with a jazzy flavor and usually feature Sam Price or Lil Armstrong on piano. One session features a harmonica player who is probably the fine and enigmatic Rhythm Willie. Brown is an excellent singer with some interesting lyrics though his soaring, swooping vocal affectations can get annoying in large doses. (FS)
LEE BROWN: Another Little Girl/ Carpenter Man Blues/ Cross The Sante Fe/ Down By The M & O/ Forsaken Blues/ Howling Man Blues/ I Can Lay It On Down/ Jeff Davis Highway/ Lemon Roller/ Let Me Be Your Bo Weavil/ Little Brown Skin Girl/ Little Girl Little Girl/ Lock And Key Blues/ Low Down Feelin'/ Midnight Dream/ Moanin' Dove/ My Driving Wheel/ New Little Girl Little Girl/ Perlina Blues/ Pitchin' Boogie/ Ripley Rumbling Blues/ Rolling Stone/ She's My All And All/ Treated Like A Dog

 
MADAME EDNA GALLMAN COOKE Acrobat 3133 Collection, 1949-1962 ● CD $16.98
Two CDs, 49 tracks, very highly recommended
Edna Gallmon Cooke was a truly superb gospel singer from Columbia, South Carolina who recorded prolifically between 1949 and hear death in 1967. Her delicate high soprano influenced a legion of singers and was once labeled "The Gospel Queen Of The Potomac". A skilled practitioner of the song-sermonette, Madame Cooke could and did create eerie exhortations to virtue centering on illness, gambling, and death. Her musical parables were often accompanied by illustrious quartet backing, either by the Radio Four, The Singing Sons and others. Surprisingly this is the first in depth look at the recordings of this brilliant and influential artist who Aretha Franklin declared sang "stick-to-your-ribs gospel." The first disc opens with one of her earliest recordings for DeLuxe in 1949 and moves through sides for Regal, Gospel and Republic before joining Nashboro in 1955 where she stayed until her early death though this set ends in 1962. The music here is consistently superb with most of the songs being written by Madam Edna. Sound quality is generally excellent and there are informative notes and discographical information included.
MADAME EDNA GALLMON COOKE: A Dedication/ Amen/ Angels, Angels, Angels/ Build Me A Cabin/ Child Of The King/ Come By Here/ Come Home/ Disc 2:/ Don't You Wanta Go/ Evening Sun/ Glory To His Name/ God Be With You/ He'll Fix It/ Heavy Load/ Hide Me/ I Can't See Them Now/ I Promised The Lord/ I've Been Redeemed/ I've Got Religion/ If You Don't Go/ In My Heavenly Home/ Inching/ It Could Be Jesus/ Jesus Will Never Say No/ Leakin' In This Building/ Let Jesus Lead You/ Let's Praise God/ Life's Lonesome Road/ Lord When I Get Home/ Loved Ones Are Waiting/ Meet Me At The River/ Mother's Looking For Me/ My Journey Home/ Nobody But You Lord/ Nobody Knows The Trouble I've Had/ Road Of No Return/ Said I Wouldn't Tell It/ Somebody Help Me/ Somebody Touched Me/ Stop Gambler/ The Hammer Rings/ The Lord Still Answers Prayer/ The Lost Sheep/ The Old Landmark/ Walk Through The Valley/ Walking On The Right Road/ War Fare/ Wave That Train/ Without You Lord/ You Ought've Been There

 
BOB DYLAN Sony 512441 The Cutting Edge, 1965-1966: The Bootleg Series Vol. 12 ● CD $149.98
Six CDs, 110 tracks, essential
Arguably, the three albums that Bob Dylan recorded in 1965 and 1966 "Bringing It All Back Home," "Highway 61 Revisited" and "Blonde on Blonde" helped change the course of popular music. From the sublime lyricism of Mr. Tambourine Man to the proto rap blues of Subterranean Homesick Blues to the cascade of psychedelic, surrealistic images in Desolation Row this was new music for a new generation. But these songs did not arrive on record fully formed - the were the result of an immense amount of work in the studio with Bob changing lyrics, tunes and tempos until he finally arrived at his definitive vision for the songs. Over the years various outtakes from these sessions have appeared - some on previous volumes of The Bootleg Series and others on unofficial bootlegs but with the latest volume of The Bootleg Series we have an in depth look at these sessions. Six CDs with 110 tracks showing the evolution of three works of true genius. One whole disc is devoted to the most iconic of his songs from this era Like A Rolling Stone revealing just how dramatically the song changed from original conception to final masterpiece and is the only song here included on the original album. Other songs are represented by one to four takes including such gems as the acoustic version of Subterranean Homesick Blues , a solo piano demo and electric versions of Desolation Row, an electric version of Mr Tambourine Man, songs from Blonde on Blonde with Bob accompanied by members of his current band (aka The Band) that were abandoned - and that only scratches the surface of what is included here. There are also songs that were not included on the final albums like I'll Keep It With Mine/ You Don't Have To Do That/ California/ If You Gotta Go, Go Now/ Lunatic Princess and others. All the recordings have been newly remastered from the original master tapes. The six CDs are bound into a 56 page 8"x8" hardbound book with notes by Dylan biographer Sean Willentz, a reminiscence by Al Kooper who was responsible for the distinctive organ sound on Like A Rolling Stone and full discographical details. In addition there is another 120 page 8"x8" hardbound book crammed full of rare photos and memorabilia. If you have any interest in the music of Bob Dylan this is indipsneible. (FS) Note: If six CDs are too much, or too expensive there is a two CD set featuring highlights from the set. If this is not enough, Sony have issued a 5000 copy limited edition 18 CD set featuring every note from the sessions including false starts, studio chatter, etc. Instead of three versions of Desolation Row, you get eleven! This is only available from bobdylan.com and will set you back $600 plus postage.

 
BOB DYLAN Sony 512442 The Best Of The Cutting Edge, 1965-1966: The Bootleg Se ● CD $21.98
Two CDs, 35 tracks, essential if you don't want or can't afford the six CD set
This set of highlights from the six CD set features at least one alternate take of most of the songs on the LPs plus several of the songs that never appeared on the LPs.

 
RED FOLEY B.A.C.M. 500 Vol. 4 - My Keepsake Album ● CD $14.98
For B.A.C.M.'s 500th release we have - drum roll please - Volume 4 of Red Foley. 25 tracks by this popular performer from the late 50s. It includes a couple of duets with his wife Betty Foley as well as a number of tracks featuring heartwarming narrations which were to become a trademark of Red and which are, to some, an acquired taste. Regretfully it's a taste I have not acquired. Titles include How About Me/ Papa's Go A Walkin'/ Old Doc Brown/ Ceptin' Ole Shorty/ Fight For Pride In The Cotton Patch/ South and more.
RED FOLEY: Blues In My Little Red Wagon/ Ceptin' Ole Shorty/ Come A Little Closer/ Company's Comin'/ Day My Paw Played Preacher/ Fight For Pride In The Cotton Patch/ Georgia Town Blues/ God Forgive Me When I Whine/ Hello Little Boy/ How About Me/ How's The World Treatin' You/ Just Before Dawn/ M-I-S-S-I-S-S-I-P-P-I/ Ma's Old Galvanized Washing Tub/ Mother Watch/ My Gal Country Style/ Old Doc Brown/ Old Grandpappy Do Funny/ Papa'd Go A Walkin'/ South/ Strike While The Iron Is Hot/ That Old River Line/ This Could Very Well Be It/ Times Have Changed Ain't They/ Why Ask For The Moon

 
ALICE GERRARD & MIKE SEEGER 5 String Productions 8003 Bowling Green** ● CD $16.98
26 tracks, 69 min., highly recommended
This CD reissues their long out-of-print LP from 1980 on the Greenhays label, adds tracks from a Japanese-only LP released in 1971, and throws in cuts from Seeger's personal collection. Thus 7 tracks have never been issued in the U.S. and 5 have never been issued at all. Songs range from traditional numbers (Bowling Green, Pretty Polly, The Death Of Queen Jane), to classics (The Carter Family's Coal Miner's Blues, W.C. Handy's St. Louis Blues) to originals (Needmore, Love Was The Price), many of which sound like traditional songs. The recording dates range from 1967-80, and the booklet notes include the specific tunings for the banjo, fiddle, and guitar whenever they are non-standard. In addition, by placing the CD in a computer, listeners will find the complete lyrics for each song. It's nice to find an album that assumes that someone might actually like to play some of the songs, a common assumption many years ago. (JC)

 
HENRY GRAY Blind Pig 8013 Lucky Man** ● CD $10.98
13 tracks, 36 mins, very highly recommended
What a delight to finally have this great 1990 album on CD. This was the first U.S. album by this brilliant Louisiana piano player who moved to Chicago in the 40s and illuminated so many great Chicago blues records of the 50s and early 60s (Howlin' Wolf, Jimmy Reed, Billy Boy Arnold, etc.) and I believe his pianist skills were second only to Otis Spann. This album features him performing a mixture of original songs along with those from the repertoire of Fats Domino, Jimmy Rogers, Big Maceo, J. B. Lenore and others. He is accompanied by an excellent small group with Steve Freund on guitar and Willie Smith on drums. Although Henry is not a great singer he is an effective one, his piano playing skills are intact, and his playing on slow or medium tempo items like the title song, Cold Chills/ Mean Old World or Out On The Road has that lovely rolling, cascading quality that one rarely hears anymore and is simply spine chilling.(FS)

 
WILBERT HARRISON Acrobat ACRD 103 Let's Work Together** ● CD $11.98
10 tracks, 35 mins, highly recommended
Wilbert Harrison was one of a kind with his distinctive vocal style and approach to songs which seemed to change from session to session. He recorded quite prolifically and with so little of his material currently available on CD this reissue of his 10 of his 1969 Sue recordings is most welcome though I wished they'd included all the Sue sides. For this album Wilbert played guitar, harmonica, piano and drums with "Thunder Thumb" on bass. The wonderfully catchy title song which was a reworking of his 1961 recording Let's Stick Together became something of a hippy anthem after being covered by Canned Heat. There's a remake of his biggest hit Kansas City, some great R&B covers like Louie Louie/ Blue Monday and Stand By Me plus some typical Harrison oddities like Tropical Shakedown and Soul Rattler. Great stuff but it all ends too soon - I think it's time for Bear Family to do a complete Wilbert Harrison box set. I don't know if anyone else would buy it but I certainly would! (FS)

 
THE HIGHWAY Q.C'S Charly SNAPCD 189 Where He Leads Me ● CD $13.98 $10.98
27 tracks, 72 mins, essential
Indispensable collection of songs recorded by this superb Chicago quartet for Vee Jay between 1955 and 1964. It includes six tracks from the group's first two session which featured Johnny Taylor. His great Sam Cooke inspired lead vocals are featured to great effect on the sublime Somewhere To Lay My Head and I Dreamed Heaven Was Like This. Most of the subsequent leads are by the very fine Spencer Taylor (no relation) who is at his peak on songs like Something On My Mind/ Working On The Building/ The Way Up The Hill and the fabulous I Heard. This is the only available collection of this wonderful group's classic Vee-Jay sides. (FS)
THE HIGHWAY QCS: Amazing Grace/ Child Of God/ Do You Love Him/ Every Man,womn And Child/ Golden Bells/ Great Trumpet/ He Lifted My Burdens/ He Said/ Heavenly Father's Children/ I Dreamed Heaven Was Like This/ I Heard/ I Used To Wonder/ I Used To Wonder/ I'll Be Satisfied/ I'll See Jesus Too/ I'll Trust His Word/ Jesus, I'm Waiting/ Lord I'll Go/ Nobody Knows/ Oh What A Beautiful Day/ Pray/ Sad How They Done My Lord/ Something On My Mind/ Somewhere To Lay My Head/ The Milky White Way/ The Way Up The Hill/ Where He Leads Me/ Working On The Building

 
B.B. KING Hi Hat 008 United Western Recorders, Hollywood LA, October 1, 1972 ● CD $18.98
14 tracks, recommended
Previously unreissued live radio broadcast by B.B. from 1972. B.B. is accompanied by his regular band of the time and performs a selection of his recent and older hits - Everyday I Have The Blues/ Just A Little Love/ Ghetto Woman/ Rock Me Baby/ Hummingbird, etc. B.B. and the band are in fine form with some terrific guitar work from B.B. though the recording mix is not good with his vocals low and the band low with only his guitar coming through with any great clarity. B.B. was still in top form at the time though this is not among his better recordings. (FS)

 
FREDDIE KING Rockbeat 3315 Going Down At Onkel Po's ● CD $17.98
Two CD set with almost 2 1/2 hours of high energy electric blues recorded live at Onkel Po's Carnegie Hall in Hamburg, Germany in 1975. A mix of songs he made famous along with covers of blues favorites - Big Leg Woman/ Boogie Funk/ Mojo Boogie/ Something You Got/ You're The One/ Ain't Nobody's Business/ The THings That I Used To Do, etc.

 
LITTLE RICHARD Acrobat 3141 Little Richard Collection, 1951-1962 ● CD $16.98
Two CDs, 60 tracks, very highly recommended
Richard Penniman aka Little Richard is one of the founding fathers of rock 'n' roll and this double CD is a great introduction to his incredible repertoire. Before making his classic Specialty recordings he recorded as a fine urban blues singer for RCA and Peacock between 1951 and 1953 and all these sides are here ranging from soulful bluesy ballads (Thinkin' 'Bout My Mother/ Why Did You Leave Me?) to hard driving Roy Brown style jump blues (Ain't Nothin' Happening/ Fool At The Wheel). He joined Specialty in 1955. There, between 1955 and '57 he turned out a slew of classic rocking and raucous R&B numbers that influenced generations of musicians and whose songs have been covered by thousands of performers over the years. All the classics are here - Tutti Frutti/ Long Tall Sally/ Rip It Up/ The Girl Can't Help It/ Lucille/ Keep A Knockin' and all the rest plus all the "B" sides and album tracks. In 1957 he quit show business to pursue his religious leanings but returned to recording in 1959 where over the next few years he recorded mostly gospel material along with one surreptitious secular session that was issued under the name of his band The Upsetters. This set ends with several of his gospel sides issued my Mercury in 1961 and '62 and two of those sides cut with The Upsetters - I'm In Love Again and Every Night About This Time. Excellent sound and booklet has informative notes and full discographical info. Everybody needs to have Little Richard in their collection and this is as good a place as any to start. (FS)
LITTLE RICHARD: Ain't Nothing Happening/ Ain't That Good News/ All Around The World/ All Night Long/ Always/ Baby/ Baby Face/ By The Light Of The Silvery Moon/ Can't Believe You Wanna Leave/ Chicken Little Baby/ Directly From My Heart/ Directly From My Heart To You/ Early One Morning/ Every Hour/ Every Night About This Time/ Fool At The Wheel/ Get Rich Quick/ Good Golly Miss Molly/ He Got What He Wanted (But He Lost What he Had)/ He's Not Just A Soldier/ Heeby-Jeebies/ Hey-Hey-Hey-Hey/ I Brought It All On Myself/ I Got It/ I Love My Baby/ I'll Never Let You Go (Boo Hoo Hoo Hoo)/ I'm In Love Again/ I'm Just A Lonely Guy/ Jenny Jenny/ Joy Joy Joy/ Kansas City/ Keep A-Knockin'/ Little Richard's Boogie/ Lonesome And Blue/ Long Tall Sally/ Lucille/ Maybe I'm Right/ Maybe I'm Right/ Miss Ann/ Oh Why/ Ooh! My Soul/ Please Have Mercy On Me/ Ready Teddy/ Rice, Red Beans And Turnip Greens/ Rip It Up/ Send Me Some Lovin'/ Shake A Hand/ She Knows How To Rock/ She's Got It/ Slippin' And Slidin'/ Taxi Blues/ The Girl Can't Help It/ The Most I Can Offer/ Thinkin' 'Bout My Mother/ True Fine Mama/ Tutti Frutti/ Whole Lotta Shakin'/ Why Did You Leave Me'/ Why Don't You Change Your Ways/ Wonderin'

 
HARRY MCCLINTOCK B.A.C.M. 502 Vol. 2 - Plus Other Artists ● CD $14.98
24 tracks, highly recommended
Complementing BACM 082, the first 12 tracks of this set features most of the remaining titles recorded by this distinctive performer. Most of the tracks feature Mac and just his guitar plus a few with a small group. While most of the songs are familiar (Cowboy's Lament/ Sam Bass/ Goodbye Old Paint/ Sweet Betsy From PIke, etc.) Haywire Mac gives them his own unique touch that gives them new life. His Ain't We Crazy is genuinely funny and we also get to hear him do a commercial Swartz Gingerale Song No. 2). The rest of the disc features other artists from the same era and is a splendid selection with titles often capturing the lively spirit of Haywire Mac - includes Frankie Marvin, Carl Boing & His Four Aces, Bill Cox, Bob Miller & Hinky Dinkers (his Wild and Reckless Hobo is based on Jimmie Rodgers' Waitin' For A Train and has delightful jug band flavor to it), Norwood Tew and others. Delightful stuff. (FS)
CHESTER ALLEN & CAMPBELL: Drinkin' Blues/ THE BENTLEY BOYS: Henhouse Blues/ CARL BOLING & HIS FOUR ACES: That Old Rocking Chair/ DWIGHT BUTCHER AS SLIM OAKDALE: Cowboy's Heaven/ BILL COX: Go Long Mule (Parody)/ JAKE & CARL: Please Don't Love Nobody When I'm Gone/ DADDY JOHN LOVE: Railroad Blues/ FRANKIE MARVIN: Happy Go Lucky Boy/ HARRY MCCLINTOCK: Ain't We Crazy/ Cowboy's Lament/ Good-Bye Old Paint/ He Sure Can Play A Harmoniky/ His Parents Haven't Seen Him Since/ Jesse James/ Red River Valley/ Sam Bass/ Swartz Gingerale Song No. 2/ Sweet Betsy From Pike County/ The Texas Rangers/ When It's Time To Shear The Sheep/ BOB MILLER & HIS HINKY DINKERS: Wild And Reckless Hobo/ PETE THE HIRED MAN (GEORGE E. LOGAN): Will The Roses Bloom In Heaven/ NORWOOD TEW: If You Meet A Tramp/ JOE WERNER & THE RAMBLERS: Tommy Cat Blues

 
ROY NEWMAN & HIS BOYS B.A.C.M. 367 Round The World On A Dime** ● CD $14.98
29 tracks, highly recommended
Great collection of sides by this Dallas based western swing band - most of it recorded recorded between 1934 & 1939 along with some radio transcriptions from the 1940s. The group, led by pianist Newman group was much influenced by jazz and sweet bands and featured the clarinet work of Holly Horton on many of these recordings as well as some of the earliest electric guitar work by Jim Boyd. The group featured other stellar musicians like fiddlers Thurmon Neal, Art Davis or Cecil Brower, steel guitar giant Bob Dunn, banjoist Walter Kirkes and others. Vocals are handled by various band members including David, Boyd, Earl Brown and others. Their material is mostly pop and jazz standards along with a few coun try songs including Tiger Rag/ Somebody Loves Me/ The Lonesome Road/ A Good Man Is Hard To Find/ Birmingham Jail/ Who Calls You Sweet Mama Now?/ Graveyard Blues, etc. Sound quality is excellent and Kevin Coffey provides his usual insightful notes. (FS)
ROY NEWMAN & HIS BOYS: A Good Man Is Hard To Find/ Barn Dance Rag/ Better Get Off Your High Horse Baby/ Birmingham Jail/ Chicken Reel/ Corrine Corrine/ Get Along Home Candy/ Graveyard Blues/ How Many Times/ I Don't Love Anyone But You/ I Used To Love You/ I've Got It/ Mexicala Rose/ Over The Santa Fe Trail/ Red River Valley/ Roll Along Jordan/ Round The World On A Dime/ Slow And Easy/ Some Of These Days/ Somebody Loves Me/ That Old White Mule Of Mine/ The Lonesome Road/ The Night That You Nestled In My Arms/ There'll Be Some Changes Made/ Tiger Rag/ We'll Meet By The Bend In The River/ When There's Tears In The Eyes Of The Potato/ When You And I Were Young Maggie/ Who Calls You Sweet Mama Now

 
EDDIE NOACK Omni 181 Ain't The Reaping Ever Done? 1962-1976 ● CD $18.98
30 tracks, highly recommended
Eddie Noack was one of the true giants of Texas honky tonk who never achieved the success that he deserved. Bear Family has released two sets featuring his best recordings (Bear Family 17142 "Gentelemen Prefer Blondes" - 3 CD set - $59.98 and 17204 "Psycho" - $21.98). This collection features most of the rest of his recordings and in Eddie's case "most of the rest" are pretty darn good featuring dark empathic honky tonk ballads and wry commentaries on the human condition. 13 tracks are from a 1974 Nashville session which was only released on a very obscure English LP. It includes a couple of remakes of his 50s classics Too Hot To Handle and Have Blues - Will Travel along with some fine new songs like These Hands and A Day In The Life Of A Fool as well as the wonderful No Bl;ues Is Good News which he'd previously recorded in 1965 as a demo. The rest is drawn from singles on small labels like Teelet, Riviera, Stoneway and others. highlighted by the superb title song, the desperate plea Before You Use That Gun and the catchy East Texas. All but a couple of the songs were written by Noack and reveal what a brilliant talent he was. 16 page booklet includes detailed notes, rare photos and label shots. Another excellent release from Australia's Omni label. (FS)

 
LLOYD PRICE Bear Family BCD 16999 Lloyd Rocks** ● CD $24.98
34 tracks, 79 mins, highly recommended
Just based on Lawdy Miss Clawdy and the serious amount of Rock 'N' Roll it inspired, Lloyd Price earns the distinction of having a "Rocks" collection. There are plenty of other reasons though and Bear Family gather them up in fine fashion. This mostly concentrates on Price's late 1950's recordings, with only a handful of early '50s recordings; this collection is a perfect complement to the Lloyd Price 1952-53 CD on Classics (Classics 5100 - $14.98), Where You At? and Clawdy being the only tracks to be featured on both. Price lost several years of recording due to a stint in the armed forces, so this collection doesn't miss a beat in his career. On this you get Prices big breakout hits Just Because/ Personality/ I'm Gonna Get Married, and Stagger Lee, but it also features a whole bunch of great lesser known cuts. Such gems as Mailman Blues/ Country Boy Rock/ The Chicken and the Bop/ Down By The River/ Lady Luck/ Where Were You on Our Wedding Day?/ Georgiana, and Heavy Dreams, to name a few. Comes with lots of rare photos, detailed notes, great sound, and fantastic presentation that can be expected from our friends at the Family of Bears. (JM)
LLOYD PRICE: Ain't That Just Like A Woman/ Baby Please Come Home/ Baby Please Come Home (LP Version)/ Carry Me Home/ Country Boy Rock/ Down By The River/ Georgianna/ Gonna Let You Come Back Home/ Have You Ever Had The Blues/ Heavy Dreams/ Hello Little Girl/ How Many Times/ I'm Glad, Glad/ I'm Gonna Get Married/ Just Because/ Lady Luck/ Lawdy Miss Clawdy/ Lawdy Miss Clawdy/ Mailman Blues/ Personality/ Question/ Rock 'n' Roll Dance/ Stagger Lee/ Such A Mess/ Tell Me, Pretty Baby/ The Chicken And The Bop/ The Hoochie Coochie Coo/ Walkin' The Track/ Where Were You On Our Wedding Day/ Where You At/ Why/ Woe Ho Ho/ Wont'cha Come Home/ You Need Love

 
OTIS REDDING Atlantic/ Rhino 422140 Otis Blue/ Otis Redding Sings Soul ● CD $16.98
2 CD, 40 tracks, essential
Otis Redding's 1966 album Otis Blue was his third and most fully realized release. Many of the songs and performances that made his reputation as a leading light in the Soul movement-and Stax Records' biggest star-are contained here: Respect and I've Been Loving You Too Long - two originals that cemented his abilities as a songwriter - and his world-beating covers of Sam Cooke's Shake, the Rolling Stones' Satisfaction, and William Bell's You Don't Miss Your Water are just the tip of the iceberg. In the album's original form it would rate as essential, but this deluxe edition goes the extra mile by including over two CDs both mono and stereo mixes of the original album, and bonus tracks of two live performances-from the Whisky A Go Go in 1966 and the legendary Live in Europe shows from 1967-and assorted B-sides, mono mixes of stereo recorded tracks (including previously unissued versions of Ole Man Trouble and I've Been Loving You Too Long), and an alternate 1967 version of Respect. The amount of goodness herein is breathtaking and reminds us, as if any reminding were needed, what we lost when that plane went down in Wisconsin in December 1967. No home should be without this CD. (GMC)

 
BETTY SMITH Folk Legacy 53 Songs Traditionally Sung In North Carolina** ● CD $16.98
CD-R, 15 tracks, 48 min., highly recommended
The McGarrigle sisters must have had this music in their record collection and their souls when they recorded their first two LPs. Smith is pure of voice as she accompanies herself on guitar or autoharp or dulcimer or psaltery. The songs speak of revenge, despair, murder, heartbreak, death (and other human preoccupations) with a starkness that is both beautiful and chilling. A recurring subject is the transitory nature of this existence and the getting ready for the afterlife (e.g., We'll Camp A Little While In The Wilderness and Where Will I Shelter My Sheep Tonight). Songs include the familiar Black Is The Color and Foggy Dew, as well as the less familiar Little Rosewood Casket/ Mary Of The Wild Moor/ Young Charlotte, and more. Copy of booklet that came with LP is available from Folk Legacy for $2.00 Not to be missed. (JC)

 
HOBART SMITH Folk Legacy 17 Traditional Appalachian Songs And Tunes** ● CD $16.98
CD-R, 24 tracks, 57 mins, essential
Hobart Smith from Saltville, Virginia is one of my favorite old time musicians and a greatly influential performer. He was a wonderful singer with an emotion charged style and a virtuoso instrumentalist who was adept on banjo, fiddle, guitar and piano though the piano is not featured here. Smith was first recorded by Alan Lomax in 1942 but didn't start performing on the folk circuit until the 1960s and these recordings were made at a radio station in Chicago in 1963 and resulted in his first album. This CD adds three bonus cuts to the original LP. Hobart sings a wide range of traditional songs and tunes including two different versions of Soldier's Joy - one performed on banjo and one on fiddle. Other instrumental pieces include Black Annie/ John Greer's Tune/ Bonaparte's Retreat/ K.C. Blues and others. The songs feature Hobart accompanying himself with guitar, banjo or beautiful modal fiddle work and includes Peg And Awl/ Short Life Of Trouble/ Sitting On Top Of The World/ Cuckoo Bird/ Uncloudy Day etc. This CD does not include the detailed booklet that came with the LP but you can get a copy by sending $2 to Folk Legacy. Indispensible to any lover of traditional American music. (FS)

 
VICTORIA SPIVEY Fabulous 2055 The Victoria Spivey Collection, 1926-1937 ● CD $9.98
Two CDs, 48 tracks, essential
Victoria Spivey was one of the greatest of the early female "vaudeville" singers - worthy of mention in the same breath as Ma Rainey and Bessie Smith. She was an earthy singer with an intense nasal moaning style - she sounds very much like a country blues singer though she recorded in an urban environment. Her lyrics were often more imaginative than her contemporaries dealing in an interesting and witty way with themes of sex, drugs, violence and illness. This is a cross section of her recordings made between 1926 and 1937 and finds her in the company of stellar musicians like Lonnie Johnson (who, in addition to his spellbinding guitar accompaniments, duets with Victoria on several risqué numbers), King Oliver, Eddie Lang (dig his wonderful use of guitar harmonics on Organ Grinder Blues), Louis Armstrong, Henry "Red" Allen, Georgia Tom Dorsey, Tampa Red, Arnett and others who perfectly complement Victoria's gorgeous singing. Songs include Black Snake Blues/ Humored and Petted Blues/ T.B. Blues/ Dope Head Blues (with wonderfully appropriate surreal lyrics)/ Murder In The First Degree/ Toothache Blues/ How Do They Do It That Way/ Baulin' Water Blues/ Black Snake Swing and many more. Sound quality is generally excellent though some tracks are obviously from worn 78s but it's all listenable. Includes informative notes by Paul Watts and full discographical data. Years ago Document put out four CDs with all of Victoria's early recordings but two of those are now out of print so this is the best survey of this great artist's output. (FS)
VICTORIA SPIVEY: A Good Man Is Hard To Find/ Any Kind A Man/ Baulin' Water Blues Pt. 1/ Black Snake Blues/ Black Snake Swing/ Blood Thirsty Blues/ Bloodhound Blues/ Blue Valley Blues/ Christmas Morning Blues/ Detroit Moan/ Don't Trust Nobody Blues/ Dope Head Blues/ Down Hill Pull/ Dreaming 'Bout My Man/ Dreaming Of You/ From 1 To 12 (Dirty Dozen)/ Funny Feathers/ Furniture Man Blues (Pt. 2)/ Garter Snake Blues/ Give It To Him/ Good Cabbage/ Got The Blues So Bad/ Hollywood Stomp/ Hoodoo Man Blues/ How Do They Do It That Way/ Humored And Pettered Blues/ I'll Never Fall In Love Again/ Low Down Man Blues/ Moaning The Blues/ Mosquito Fly And Flea/ Mr. Freddie Blues/ Murder In The First Degree/ My Handy Man/ Nebraska Blues/ New York Blues/ No More Jelly Bean Blues/ No. 12 Let Me Roam/ One Hour Mama/ Organ Grinder Blues/ Showered With The Blues/ Sweet Pease/ T.B. Blues/ Telephoning The Blues/ The Alligator Pond Went Dry/ Toothache Blues/ You Done Lost Your Good Thing Now/ You Gotta Have What It Takes/ Your Worries Ain't Like Mine

 
BETTYE SWANN Kent CDKEND 438 The Very Best Of Bettye Swann ● CD $18.98
24 tracks, highly recommended
Bettye Swann is one of those R&B singers that everyone but the aficionados has forgotten about; which is understandable because -- although she was a fairly consistent presence on the R&B charts -- she didn't exactly set the pop charts on fire. But Bettye's oeuvre has a lot to offer Soul fans, not least her 1967 chart topper, Make Me Yours, and this collection covers her career from 1964 to 1975 across four record labels: Money, Capitol, Fame, and Atlantic. Indeed, she shows her mettle on Our Love, covers of Sam Cooke's A Change is Gonna Come and the Classic's 4 Traces, I'm Just Living a Lie, and All the Way in Or All the Way Out. And that's just for starters. For anyone not acquainted with the work of Bettye Swann, this CD is a fine place to start. (GMC)

 
ALLEN TOUSSAINT Raven 386 Toussaint: The Real Thing, 1970-75 ● CD $21.98
2 CDs, 34 tracks, 118 mins, highly recommended
Allen Toussaint definitely is "The Real Thing," a great songwriter and performer, who has been essential to New Orleans music and the city itself for 50 plus years. This fine CD features three of Allen Toussaint's key albums of the 1970s: "Toussaint" (1971), "Life, Love and Faith" (1972), and "Southern Nights" (1975) in their entirety, plus two bonus tracks. In the 1960s Toussaint's status as a premier songwriter was established, writing and producing hits for New Orleans artists like Ernie K-Doe, Lee Dorsey Irma Thomas, Art and Aaron Neville, and many more. In turn so many of those hit records inspired hit cover versions by The Rolling Stones, The Who, Otis Redding, The Hollies, and many other Rock & Soul artists. By the 1970s it was time for Allen Toussaint to spend some time in the spotlight. These records feature his own versions of songs like; Working in the Coal Mine/ Everything I Do Gonna Be Funky, and Southern Nights (which would be a big hit for Glen Campbell a couple years later,) and many other great tracks. All three albums stand on their own, and having them all here together, plus bonus tracks, is a real delight. (JM)
ALLEN TOUSSAINT: Am I Expecting Too Much/ Back In Baby?s Arms/ Basic Lady/ Cast Your Fate To The Wind/ Chokin' Kind/ Country John/ Cruel Way To Go Down/ Either/ Electricity/ Everything I Do Gonna? Be Funky/ Fingers And Toes/ From A Whisper To A Scream/ Goin' Down/ Gone Too Far/ I?ve Got To Convince Myself/ Last Train/ Louie/ My Baby Is The Real Thing/ Number Nine/ On Your Way Down/ Out Of The City (Into Country Life)/ Pickles/ Poor Folks/ She Once Belonged To Me/ Soul Sister/ Southern Nights/ Sweet Touch Of Love/ Victims Of The Darkness/ What Do You Want The Girl To Do?/ What Is Success/ When The Party's Over/ Working In A Coal Mine/ Worldwide/ You Will Not Lose

 
VARIOUS ARTISTS Ace CDCHD 1231 The Laurie Records Story, Vol. 3 - Girls & Girl Groups** ● CD $18.98
24 tracks, 61 mins, highly recommended
The first volume (Ace 933 - $18.98) of songs from the vaults of legendary New York indie label Laurie Records focused on the label's greatest hits and their biggest stars, Dion & the Belmonts. The second installment (Ace 883 - $18.98) spotlighted songwriter Ernie Maresca, who wrote (or co-wrote) many of the label's hits including Dion's The Wanderer and Runaround Sue. This latest entry highlights the distaff side of the roster with more than half of the selections new to CD. These sides are truly a treat for girl group aficionados; among the goodies are some late chart entries from The Chiffons, and some obscure tracks from Dawn (not the Tony Orlando-led group), The Charmers, The Cheese Cakes (featuring unsung vocalist Jean Thomas), Les Girls, Brenda Lee Jones, and Beverly Warren. Best surprise bonus: the original version of Hanky Panky - famously a hit for Tommy James & the Shondells - by The Summits. Sixties pop never sounded so good, and this CD is essential for girl group fans. (GMC)
MARIE ANTOINETTE: He's My Dream Boy/ BERNADETTE CARROLL: Circus Girl/ He's Just A Playboy/ THE CHARMERS: Shy Guy/ Sweet Talk The/ THE CHEESE CAKES: Heading For A Heartbreak/ THE CHIFFONS: If I Knew Then (What I Know Now)/ Keep The Boy Happy/ Love Me Like You're Gonna Lose Me/ Stop, Look And Listen/ CORINNA CORD: Don't Lean On Me/ LORRIE DARNELL: Nothing Went Right/ DAWN: I M Afraid They Re All Talking About Me/ Sandy/ THE DEL-RONS: Your Big Mistake/ GLORIA DENNIS: How Can I Be Sure (That It's Love)/ THE FOUR PENNIES: My Block/ LES GIRLS: I Still Love You/ THE JEANS: Whenever A Teenager Cries/ LINDA & THE LINDETTES: He S Mine/ REPARATA: Your Life Is Gone/ THE SUMMITS: Hanky Panky/ He's An Angel/ BEVERLY WARREN: Let Me Get Close To You

 
VARIOUS ARTISTS Ace CDCHD 1448 Rhythm 'n' Bluesin' By The Bayou - Vocal Groups ● CD $18.98
28 tracks, highly recommended
Another terrific collection of Louisiana R&B rarities and unissued sides from the 50s - this time focussing on the vocal group sound - much of it with that distinctive loping Louisiana feel. The material ranges from the aching doo-wop ballad Cry Weeping Willow by Henry Clement (who is featured on several other exceptional performances) to the rocking New Orleans R&B of Feelin' Right Saturday Night by The Velvetiers. Other artists include Charles Morris, Sticks Herman, Sonny Martin, The Raves, The Hi-Fis, Katie Webster (a gorgeous cover of Sea of Love) and others. There are three tracks by unknown groups that are of the same high standard as the rest of the material. (FS)
HENRY CLEMENT: Cry Weeping Willow/ Please Please Darling/ Tall Skinny Mama/ COOKIE & THE CUPCAKES: Breaking Up Is Hard To Do/ THE DEL-CHORDS: Help Me/ THE GAY NOTES: Married Too Soon/ Plea Of Love/ Waiting In The Chapel/ THE GAYNOTES: The Snake/ STICKS HERMAN: Give Me Your Love/ The Natural Thing To Do/ THE HI FI S: I'm So Lonely/ THE HI FI'S: My Dear/ LITTLE HENRY: Jenny Jenny Jenny/ What Have I Done Wrong/ SONNY MARTIN: I Cried/ Lookin' And Searchin'/ Some Other Time/ CHARLEY MORRIS: I Need Your Lovin/ THE RAVES: Billy The Kid/ Tell Me, Tell Me, Tell Me/ TABBY THOMAS: Brother Brown/ UNKNOWN GROUP 1: Tender And Tall/ UNKNOWN GROUP 2: Calimo/ UNKNOWN GROUP 3: Oh Baby/ THE VELVETIERS: Feelin' Right Saturday Night/ Oh Baby/ KATIE WEBSTER: Sea Of Love

 
VARIOUS ARTISTS Ace CDCHD 1450 All Aboard! 25 Train Tracks Calling At All Musical Stations ● CD $18.98
25 tracks, 69 mins, very highly recommended
Making a compilation of train songs is certainly not a new idea. Thankfully, whoever put this together for Ace knew that and have gone out of their way to assemble a unique and highly entertaining collection. There are a few well known tracks here by the likes of James Brown, Rufus Thomas, and Sister Rosetta Tharpe, but the vast majority of the tracks are lesser known gems that rarely, if ever, pop up on compilations. Highlights include: The Freedom Riders by Harold Jackson & The Jackson Brothers; Country Line Special by Cyril Davies & His Rhythm & Blues All Stars-with a fiery harmonica blazing through the entire track; Keith & Tex's mellow Rocksteady cover of Stop That Train, which you might know from the "The Harder They Fall" soundtrack; the haunting Ghost Train by Virgil Homes; Peggy Lee with It Takes A Long Long Train With A Red Caboose (To Carry My Blues Away); and that is all just in the first six tracks. There are also great tracks by Chuck Berry, Tarheel Slim, Cliff Carlisle, The Shangra-Las, Little Walter, The Ethiopians, and many more. Special shout out to Psychedelic Train by Derrick Harriott & The Chosen Few - nothing quite like Psychedelic Ska, is there? On top of all that, they have a wonderful array of ephemera reproduced throughout, everything from original record sleeves and concert posters to a DC horror comic about ghost trains and picture of the "Popeye Express" tin toy from the 1930s complete with original box! This was a lot of fun, and is easily my favorite compilation of the year. (JM)
CHUCK BERRY: Down Bound Train/ JAMES BROWN & THE FAMOUS FLAMES: Night Train/ CLIFF CARLISLE: Pan American Man/ JAMES CARR: Freedom Train/ DADDY LONG LEGS: Death Train Blues/ CYRIL DAVIES & HIS R&B ALL STARS: Country Line Special/ CAROLINE DAY: Steam/ JOHNNY DUNCAN & THE BLUE GRASS BOYS: Last Train To San Fernando/ THE ETHIOPIANS: Train To Skaville/ DERRICK HARRIOT & THE CHOSEN FEW: Psychedelic Train/ VIRGIL HOLMES: Ghost Train/ LUTHER INGRAM: Ghetto Train/ HAROLD JACKSON & THE JACKSON BROTHERS: The Freedom Riders/ KEITH & TEX: Stop That Train/ PEGGY LEE WITH THE DAVE BARBOUR ALL STARS: It Takes A Long Long Train With A Red Caboose (To Carry My Blues Away)/ LITTLE WALTER: Up The Line/ JACKIE PAINE: Go Go Train/ NEIL SEDAKA: One Way Ticket (To The Blues)/ THE SHANGRI-LAS: The Train From Kansas City/ DUSTY SPRINGFIELD: Won't Be Long/ SHARON TANDY: Hurry Hurry Choo Choo/ TARHEEL SLIM: No 9 Train/ SISTER ROSETTA THARPE: This Train/ RUFUS THOMAS: The Memphis Train/ BOBBY WAYNE: Big Train

 
VARIOUS ARTISTS B.A.C.M. 499 Country Music On The Specialty Label ● CD $14.98
28 tracks, highly recommended with a caveat
Although best known for it's great R&B blues, rock 'n' roll and gospel recordings the Specialty also issued a handful of country recordings between 1952 and 1953 and this superb disc features about 2/3 of them. Although the label didn't record much hillbilly, what is featured here is very good indeed - a mix of honky tonk and Western Swing and features some of the earliest recordings of artists who went on to more extensive careers. The most well known artist here is probably Claude King who had a slew of hits for Columbia in the 1960s. His eight tracks are solid honky tonk and includes the splendid Got The World By The Tail which he later recorded for Columbia. Shot Jackson became a much in demand Dobroist and steel guitar player but here he is featured on four honky tonk ballads including the great If The Truth Was Known. Other artists include Johnny Tyler (western swing oriented), Biff Collie, Joyce Lawrence & Earney Vandergriff, Jerry Green, Leon Stancil and others. Many of the artists were from Texas and Louisiana so I supect that they were recorded there (maybe by Stan Lewis in Shreveport?). An unexpected delight. The caveat - many of the tracks here were issued some years ago on the Cactus collection but this has three more tracks as well as other tracks not on the Cactus collection plus this has a booklet with brief notes on the artists by British country music expert Phillip Tricker. (FS)
BIFF COLLIE: Don't Talk About Love/ Everybody Wants Me But You/ JERRY GREEN: Are You Goin' My Way/ I'll Find A Way/ Maybe Someone Else/ Naggin' Women & Braggin' Men/ SHOT JACKSON & HIS STRING BAND: Grandad He's Not Old/ I'm Trading You In On A Later Model/ If The Truth Was Known/ You Can't Get The Country Out Of The Boy/ CLAUDE KING & HIS HILLBILLY RAMBLERS: Got The World By The Tail/ I Think Of You And Me/ Now That I Love You/ She Knows Why/ She's My Baby/ Slow Thinking Heart/ So Close To Me/ Take It Like A Man/ JOYCE LOWRANCE & EARNEY VANDAGRIFF: Hush Money/ LEO STANCIL: Build A Fence Around My Broken Heart/ Quit Hangin' Around/ 'SMOKEY' STOVER: Because I Loved Her So/ What A Shame/ JOHNNY TYLER: A Sinner's Song/ Hillbilly Preacher/ I'm Grateful To You/ Take Your Blues And Go/ EARNEY VANDAGRIFF: Wishing Is All I Do

 
VARIOUS ARTISTS Boulevard Vintage 1031 Down Home Blues Classics, Texas 1946-1954 ● CD $21.98
Four CDs, 100 tracks, essential
Back in print with a new number and new packaging but the same great music and notes and at a lower price! Sensational collection of 100 Texas country and down home blues tracks including one whole CD devoted to the King - Lightnin' Hopkins. A good proportion of these have been out on CD before though some of the previous releases are no longer available and there are some real gems that have never been on CD before. The music here is consistently superb and among the previously unreissued highlights are several by the incredible "Stick Horse" Hammond (who was born in Texas but spent most of his life in Louisiana) including his great Alberta on which he sounds like a cross between Charlie Patton and Tommy McClennan! This track alone is worth the price of the set. There are also seven tracks by the brilliant singer/ guitarist Ernest Lewis including his incredible rare first recording for the Pelican label. The set also includes Texas Alexander, Perry Cain, Rattlesnake Cooper, Mercy Dee Walton, Clarence Garlow, John Hogg, Wright Holmes, Soldier Boy (aka Lawyer) Houston, Leroy "Country" Johnson, Willie Lane, David "Pete" McKinley (another Louisianan), Monister Parker, Miss Country Slim (accompanied by Ernest Lewis on a cover of Memphis Minnie's In My Girlish Days), Thunder Smith (a truly brilliant singer and piano player), The Sugarman, Big Son Tillis, D.C. Washington and others. There's not a bad track in sight and although the sound quality is not always as good as it could be (a little too much digital noise reduction and compression on a few tracks) the music more than compensates and there are informative notes by Neil Slaven. (FS)
TEXAS ALEXANDER: Crossroads/ JOHNNY BECK: You Gotta Lay Down Mama/ PERRY CAIN: A|l The Way From Texas/ BUDDY CHILES: Jet Black Woman/ RATTLESNAKE COOPER: Lost Woman Blues/ COUNTRY SLIM: What Wrong Have I Done/ SONNY BOY DAVIS: I Don't Live Here No More/ Rhythm Blues/ LEROY ERVIN: Blue, Black and Evil/ CLARENCE GARLOW: Bon Ton Roula/ I'm In A Boogie Mood/ STICK HORSE HAMMOND: Alberta/ Gamblin' Man/ Highway 51/ Truck 'Em On Down/ JOHN HOGG: Black Snake Blues/ Worrying Blues/ SMOKEY HOGG: Misery Blues/ Worried Blues/ WRIGHT HOLMES: Drove From Home Blues/ Good Road Blues/ LIGHTNIN' HOPKINS: Abilene/ Automobile/ Dirty House/ Don't Think 'Cause You're Pretty/ Feel So Bad/ Freight Train Blues/ Gone With The Wind/ Gotta Move/ Had A Gal Called Sal/ Jake Head Boogie/ Katie Mae Blues/ Let Me Play With Your Poodle/ Lightnin's Boogie/ Lonesome Home/ Long Way From Texas/ One Kind Favor/ Picture On The Wall/ Sad News From Korea/ Short Haired Woman/ Shotgun/ Sick Feeling Blues/ Sittin' Down Thinkin'/ Someday Baby/ Sugar Mama/ Tim Moore's Farm/ SOLDIER BOY HOUSTON: Dallas Be Bop Blues/ Hug Me Baby/ Lawyer Houston Blues/ LIL' SON JACKSON: Bad Whiskey, Bad Woman/ Cairo Blues/ Freedom Train Blues/ Roberta Blues/ SUNNY JAMES: Excuse Me Baby/ Please Mam Forgive Me/ LEROY "COUNTRY" JOHNSON: Log House On The Hill/ WILLIE LANE: Black Cat Rag/ Howlin' Wolf/ Prowlin' Ground Hog/ ERNEST LEWIS: No More Lovin'/ Rosa Lee/ Shake 'Em On Down/ West Coast Blues/ DAVID PETE MCKINLEY: Shreveport Blues/ PETE MCKINLEY: Mean Black Snake/ MISS COUNTRY SLIM: In My Girlish Days/ MANNY NICHOLS: Forgive Me/ No One To Love Me/ Tall Skinny Mama Blues/ Walking Talking Blues/ Worried Life/ MONISTER PARKER: You Gonna Need Me/ BILL SIMPSON: Jelly Roll Man/ FRANKIE LEE SIMS: Home Again Blues/ Lucy Mae Blues/ Single Man Blues/ THUNDER SMITH: Big Stars Are Falling/ Cruel Hearted Woman/ Low Down Dirty Ways/ Santa Fe Blues/ LUTHER STONEHAM: January 11, 1949 Blues/ THE SUGARMAN: She's Gone With The Wind/ Which Woman Do I Love/ ANDREW THOMAS: Chicago Blues/ I Love My Baby/ ANDY THOMAS: My Baby Quit Me Blues/ BIG SON TILLIS: Rocks Is My Pillow/ BIG SON & LILLIAN TILLIS: Ten Long Years/ BIG SON TILLIS: Zetela Blues/ JAMES TISDOM: Last Affair Blues/ Throw This Poor Dog A Bone/ MERCY DEE WALTON: Ba-Ba-Du-Lay Blues (G.I. Fever)/ Evil And Hanky/ Lonesome Cabin Blues/ D.C. WASHINGTON: Happy Home Blues/ WEST TEXAS SLIM: Little Mae Belle/ Loudella/ L.C. WILLIAMS: Black Woman/ Boogie All The Time/ Strike Blues

 
VARIOUS ARTISTS Buried Treasures 1005 Atlantic Soul Diamonds ● CD $16.98
21 tracks, highly recommended
From the guys that brought us Windy City Doo Wop Vols. 1 & 2 comes a collection of rarities from the vaults of Atlantic Records. The liner notes are sketchy, but it appears that most of the tracks date from the late 50's into the 60's, with a couple from the early 70's. Whatever, there is some choice listening contained herein from the likes of the Soul Brothers 6, Doris Troy, Chuck Bradford, Johnny Copeland, C. L. Blast, Ruth Brown, Howard Tate, Esther Phillips, Percy Mayfield, the Drifters and more. As usual, the lesser known performers steal the spotlight: Webs (Keep Your Love Strong), Fern Kinney (Your Love's Not Reliable), Artie Christopher (My Baby's Crying), and Jo Ann & Troy (Same Old Feeling) are all worthy of your attention and should be welcome additions to any good R&B music library. All and all, this is a nice R&B collection with some interesting tracks. (GMC)
BEN AND SPENCE: I Do/ C.L. BLAST: If I Could See My Baby’s Face Again/ CHUCK BRADFORD: I Left There Running/ RUTH BROWN: It Tears Me To Pieces/ ARTIE CHRISTOPHER: My Baby’s Crying/ THE CLOVERS: Drive It Home/ JOHNNY COPELAND: It’s My Own Tears/ THE DRIFTERS: Please Stay/ TOMMY HUNT: I Don’t Want To Lose You/ JOE ANN & TROY: Same Old Feeling/ JIMMY JULES: Take It Like It Comes/ FERN KINNEY: Your Love’s Not Reliable/ PERCY MAYFIELD: I Don’t Want To Be The President/ MIGHTY SAM: I’ve Got Enough Heartaches/ ESTHER PHILLIPS: Set Me Free/ ROSCOE ROBINSON: Leave You In The Arms Of Your Other Man/ SOUL BROTHER SIX: I Can’t Live Without You/ HOWARD TATE: Struggling/ TONY & TYRONE: Please Operator/ DORIS TROY: He Don’t Belong To Me/ THE WEBS: Keep Your Love Strong

 
VARIOUS ARTISTS Dust-To-Digital 044 Excavated Shellac: Strings ● CD $13.98
Due in a few days. Mesmerizing performances from the four corners of the world played on stringed instruments and recorded and released 78-RPM records circa 1920-1950. Featuring fiddles, shamisen, charango, Paraguyan harp, Indian vina, Lebanese oud, Persian violin, Vietnamese moon guitar, and more. Includes a 20-page booklet featuring rare photos, graphics from the 78-RPM era, and extensive liner notes by compiler Jonathan Ward, founder and author of the acclaimed Excavated Shellac website.

 
VARIOUS ARTISTS Dust-To-Digital 045 Excavated Shellac: Reeds ● CD $13.98
Due in a few days. This compelling album is the second volume in the Excavated Shellac release series, featuring rare, never-before-reissued 78-RPM records from around the world centered on a unique theme. This release examines some of the most intense and hypnotic music set to disc during the early years of international recording, all featuring reed instruments. All previously unreleased on CD. All records have been carefully transferred and mastered. Digipak with 20-page booklet featuring rare and historic photos, amazine graphics from the 78-RPM era, and extensive liner notes by compiler Jonathan Ward, founder and author of the acclaimed Excavated Shellac website.

 
VARIOUS ARTISTS Dust-To-Digital 047 Joe Bussard Presents: The Year Of Jubilo ● CD $13.98
Due in a few days. 19 track collection of songs from the collection of leading 78 rpm collector Joe Bussard featuring recordings from the 1920s and 30s of Civil War songs. Includes performances by Ernest Stoneman, The Red Mountain Trio, Ward & Winfield, Da Costa Woltz's Southern Broadcasters, Henry C. Gilliland and A. C. (Eck) Robertson, Thr McGee Brothers & Todd, and others. Includes 36-page booklet. with introductory essay by Kevin Fontenot and liner notes by early country music expert Tony Russell.

 
VARIOUS ARTISTS Fuel 2000 61691 Rare Blues From Deep In The Vaults ● CD $13.98 $8.98
18 tracks, highly recommended
A great, if too short, collection of down home blues recorded between 1949 and 1963 - mostly for Chicago labels like J.O.B., Cobra, Age, USA and others and much of it not originally released and a number of tracks not currently available elsewhere. It includes Robert Lockwood's version of Dust My Broom which was recorded prior to Elmore Jamnes' hit version but never issued. In spite of Lockwood's bitter comments about it I doubt it would have been as successful as Elmore's since Elmore's version had his wonderful slide guitar and better vocal. It also features sides by Moody Jones (Floyd Jones's brother who shared with Floyd that wonderful dark mournful vocal style), Guitar Shorty (his tough You Don't Treat Me Right from 1957 with Lafayette Leake, Willie Dixon & Odie Payne), Ricky Allen (a fine version of Little By Little with Earl Hooker on guitar), Sunnyland Slim, Leroy Foster (one of my favorite vocalists with the gorgeous, originally unissued Blues Is Killing ME with Sunnyland Slim & Robert Lockwood), A.C. Reed, Lillian Offitt (her classic Will My Man Be Home Tonight with great slide from Earl Hooker), Shakey Jake (with Magic Sam on guitar), J.B. Hutto, Jackie Brenston (best known from his 1951 recording of Rocket "88" with the great Want You To Rock Me from 1963 - a version of Rock Me mama with trademark slide guitar riffs from Earl Hooker) and more. Usual fine notes by Bill Dahl. Long time collectors will probably have most of these sides but for others it is a treasure trove of great music. (FS)
RICKY ALLEN: Little by Little/ JACKIE BRENSTON: Want You to Rock Me/ JOHN BRIM: Hard Pill to Swallow/ JESSE FORTUNE: Heavy Heart Beat/ LEROY FOSTER: Blues Is Killin' Me/ GUITAR SHORTY: You Don't Treat Me Right/ JOHN LEE HOOKER: I Love to Boogie/ J.B. HUTTO: Combination Boogie/ ELMORE JAMES: Knockin' at Your Door/ MOODY JONES: Why Should I Worry/ J.B. LENOIR: I Want to Know/ ROBERT LOCKWOOD JR.: Dust My Broom (alternate take)/ LITTLE BROTHER MONTGOMERY: Keep Drinkin'/ LILLIAN OFFITT: Will My Man Be Home Tonight/ A.C. REED: I Wanna Be Free/ SHAKEY JAKE: Call Me If You Need Me/ SUNNYLAND SLIM: Leaving Your Town/ LITTLE WALTER: Blue Baby

 
VARIOUS ARTISTS History Of Soul 012 Instrumentals Soul-Style ● CD $19.98
2 CD, 54 tracks, highly recommended
The History of Soul folks have done an exemplary job of collecting the many strands of American R&B into user-friendly CD sets. And since one of those sets put the spotlight on dance music ("Let's Soul Dance"), it makes sense that they would finally get around to instrumentals proper. And so, spanning the years 1955 to 1963, here are word-less sounds from the likes of Ray Charles, James Brown, Jimmy McGriff, Allen Toussaint, the Mar-Keys, Booker T. & the MG's, the Upsetters, Junior Walker & the All Stars, Noble Watts, King Curtis, Mac Rebennack, Phil Upchurch, Ray Bryant Combo, the Magnificent Seven, Ike and Tina Turner, Joe "Guitar" Morris, and more. The labels these tracks appear on are well-known to R&B freaks: Tamla, Stax, Josie, Federal, Ron, Harvey, Minit, Tri-Phi, Sue, King, Ace, Peacock, and Enjoy to name a few. With sub-styles from funk to uptown dancers to Latin groove, there's something here for everyone to move their body to. And you haven't lived until you've heard The Swinging Tigers' Snake Walk (Pt. 1) or Gonzo by James Booker. (GMC)
DOC BAGBY: Grinding/ THE BARONS: Jay Walk/ EUGENE BLACKNELL: Mo-Self/ JAMES BOOKER: Gonzo/ BOOKER T & THE MG'S: Aw' Mercy/ BOOKER T. & THE MG'S: Behave Yourself/ JAMES BROWN: (Can You) Feel It (Pt 1)/ (Can You) Feel It (Pt 2)/ Hold It/ RAY BRYANT COMBO: Sack Of Woe/ RAY CHARLES: One Mint Julep/ Rockhouse/ THE CHURCH STREET FIVE: A Night With Daddy G (Pt 1)/ LES COOPER: Wiggle Wobble/ KING CURTIS: The Stranger/ THE EGYPTIANS: The Party Stomp/ GENE & AL'S SPACEMEN: Mercy/ MIKE HANKS: The Hawk/ HAROLD JACKSON: The Freedom Riders/ HANK JACOBS: So Far Away/ RAY JOHNSON: Soul City/ NAT KENDRICK: Hot Chile/ Pig Eyes (Pt 1)/ FREDDIE KING: Texas Oil/ THE MAGNIFICENT SEVEN: Leap Frog/ The Groove/ THE MAR-KEYS: Last Night/ What's Happenin' Tonight/ JIMMY MCGRIFF: All About My Girl/ I've Got A Woman (Pts 1 & 2)/ THE MERCED BLUE NOTES: Whole Lotta Nothin'/ JOE 'GUITAR' MORRIS: The Git Back (Pt 1)/ THE OHIO UNTOUCHABLES: Hot Stuff/ Workout/ ROBERT PARKER: All Nite Long (Pt 2)/ THE POOR BOYS: Wash Board/ PORGY & THE POLKA DOTS: Say Yeah/ MAC REBENNACK: Sahara/ ESKEW REEDER: Green Door/ GOOGIE RENE: Side Track/ DAVID ROCKINGHAM: Dawn/ Bee Dee/ THE SWINGING TIGERS: Snake Walk (Pt 1)/ SONNY THOMPSON: Loco Limbo/ ALLEN TOUSSAINT: Whirlaway/ THE TRIUMPHS: Burnt Biscuits/ IKE AND TINA TURNER: Prancing/ THE TWISTIN' KINGS: Congo (Pt 1)/ PHIL UPCHURCH: You Can't Sit Down/ THE UPSETTERS: Jaywalking/ JUNIOR WALKER: Brainwasher (Pt 2)/ Twist Lackawanna/ NOBLE WATTS: Jookin'

 
VARIOUS ARTISTS History Of Soul 022 Where Southern Soul Began, Vol. 3 ● CD $19.98
2 CD, 30 tracks, highly recommend
Following hot on the heels of Vol. 2 (History of Soul 17 - $19.98) comes the third installment in this popular CD series. Spotlighting artists from all over the South, this set places its' emphasis on the various sources of inspiration that flourished during the late 50's and early 60's, which eventually culminated in the Southern Soul high water mark years of 1964-65. To that end, the songs run the gamut from the country-tinged sounds of Joe Tex (Be Your Own Judge) and Arthur Alexander (Go Home Girl) to the Texas blues of Joe Medwick (Stealing) and every style of R&B in between. Among the most interesting cuts are an early Clarence Carter side (partnering with Calvin Scott as the C & C Boys or Clarence & Calvin), a Ted Taylor (of the Cadets/Jacks) solo track, a Fontella Bass B-side, and some early Otis Redding. As usual, the sound quality, liner notes, and vintage photographs are excellent, which makes the third time around as highly recommended as the first two. (GMC)
THE '5' ROYALES: What's In The Heart/ THE ADORABLES: Baby Come And Get It/ ARTHUR ALEXANDER: Go Home Girl/ GENE ALLISON: Stay A Little Longer/ FONTELLA BASS: Bad Boy/ LARRY BIRDSONG: Every Night In The Week/ BOB & PEGGY: Everybody's Talking/ AL 'TNT' BRAGGS: You're Something Else/ ROY BROWN: Rocking All the Time/ THE CHAINS: I Can Learn/ CLARENCE & CALVIN: Somebody Better Come Here Quick/ CAROLYN CORLEY: You're Everything/ ROLAND DICE: Velma/ JIMMY DOTSON: Search No More/ SHELTON DUNAWAY: Mary Lou Doing The Popeye/ CHUCK EDWARDS: Morning Train/ SHERMAN EVANS: I Don't Care/ GUITAR RAY: Keep On Trying/ HARRY & THE KEYAVAS: If This Is Goodbye/ JOE HINTON: Better To Give Than To Receive/ CHARLES JAMES: Please Wait/ LOUIS JONES: Come On Home/ EMORISE KELLEY: The Biggest Fool/ THE LARGOS: I Wonder Why/ FRANKIE LEE: Don't Make Me Cry/ LEVENIA LEWIS: So Many Times/ LITTLE DAVID: Home Is Where You Come/ LITTLE MILTON: Lonely No More/ FRED LOWERY: Goodbye/ WILLIE MAYS: If You Love Me/ JOE MEDWICK: Stealing/ GROVER MITCHELL: Time Brings About A Change/ ROOSEVELT NETTLES: Heartaches And Troubles/ LITTLE JUNIOR PARKER: How Long Can This Go On?/ OSCAR PERRY: Goodbye My Love/ OTIS REDDING: Hey Hey Baby/ CLARENCE REID: Push A Little Harder/ OTIS RUSH: Homework/ NELLIE RUTHERFORD: Laughing At Me/ LARRY SEIBERT: Never Come Back/ ROSCOE SHELTON: Baby It's True Love/ CLAUDE SHERMACK: A Fool's Tears/ SALLY STANLEY: I'll Have To Let You Go/ BARBARA STEPHENS: That's The Way It Is With Me/ Wait a Minute/ JOHNNY STEWART: Misery Loves Company/ EDDIE TAYLOR: The State Song/ TED TAYLOR: I Lost The Best Things I Ever Had/ JOE TEX: Baby You're Right/ Be Your Own Judge/ OSCAR TONEY JR: Can It All Be Love/ THE VARIOS: The Wash/ GENE VELL: I'm Calling My Baby/ JACKIE VERDELL: Why Not Give Me A Chance/ MARGO WHITE: Don't Mess With My Man

 
VARIOUS ARTISTS Kent CDKEND 436 Reaching Out: Chess Records at Fame Studios ● CD $18.98
24 tracks, highly recommended
Starting in the late 50's, Fame Studios head honcho Rick Hall had recordings cut in his studio released by Chess Records. In the mid 60's, the relationship between the two companies ramped up until it reached it's apex in 1966 with Bobby Moore & the Rhythm Aces' Searching For My Love, a Top 10 R&B hit. Then, in 1967, Chess began to send its' own talent to record in Muscle Shoals, starting with Irma Thomas and Maurice & Mac. This collection contains some of the fruits of that partnership between Hall's Fame Studios and Chess Records. Of their own acts that were sent south, females predominated with Thomas, Laura Lee, Mitty Collier, and Etta James leading the charge. And the ladies strut their stuff on Wanted: Lover, No Experience Necessary and It's How You Make it Good (Lee), Good to Me and Let's Do it Over (Thomas), You're Living a Lie (Collier), and Security and Don't Lose Your Good Thing (James). The men also acquit themselves well on Lean on Me and Run to Me (Maurice & Mac), I Wanna Be Your Man (not the Beatles song) and Come Back Baby (Bobby Moore & the Rhythm Aces), and Good Day Sunshine (yep, this time it's the Beatles' song) and Party Time (Lee Webber). Naturally, this compilation is just a sampling of the artistry created by Chess and Fame, but what an appetizer it is. (GMC)
CHARLES CHALMERS: Take Me (Just As I Am)/ The Sidewinder/ Two In The Morning/ MITTY COLLIER: Too Soon To Know/ You're Living A Lie/ ETTA JAMES: Don't Lose Your Good Thing/ Security/ The Same Rope/ LAURA LEE: Hang It Up/ It's All Wrong But It's Alright/ It's How You Make It Good/ Sure As Sin/ Wanted, Lover; No Experience Necessary/ MAURICE & MAC: Lean On Me/ Run To Me/ So Much Love/ BOBBY MOORE AND THE RHYTHM ACES: Come Back Baby/ I Wanna Be Your Man/ Reaching Out/ IRMA THOMAS: A Woman Will Do Wrong/ Good To Me/ Let's Do It Over/ LEE WEBBER: Good Day Sunshine/ Party Time

 
VARIOUS ARTISTS Kent CDKEN 437 Masterpieces of Modern Soul, Vol. 4 ● CD $18.98
23 tracks, highly recommended
The fourth in the series (previous entries: Kent 222, 310, and 364) of 70's soul rarities has more previously unreleased tracks than the other entries, which is not a bad thing. Especially when there's stuff as good as If There Were No You (The Natural Resources), Jesse Johnson & Chocolate Fudge's There Will Never Be Another You (produced by Johnny Otis), Elaine Armstrong's Tears Begin to Fall, The Dramatics' Don't Lose What You Got and Elayne Starr's Night After Night (produced by Dave Hamilton). This time the compilers even manage to scratch the 80's with Gail Anderson's We Communicate and The Pretenders' It's Everything About You That I Love. Once again, Kent delivers a dynamite 70's soul collection for the discerning R&B fanatic. (GMC)
GAIL ANDERSON: We Communicate/ ELAINE ARMSTRONG: Tears Begin To Fall/ BILLY CEE & THE FREEDOM EXPRESS: Don't Matter If It's In The Past To Me/ CESAR: See Saw Affair/ HERMAN DAVIS: Gotta Be Loved/ THE DRAMATICS: Don't Lose What You Got/ DARROW FLETCHER: No Limit/ FOX FIRE: You Amaze Me/ GARLAND GREEN: Just Lovin You (Alt Rap Intro)/ GEORGE JACKSON: Talking About The Love I Have For You/ JESSE JOHNSON & CHOCOLATE FUDGE: There Will Never Be Another You/ LUV CO: Don't Send Nobody Else/ TOUSSAINT MCCALL: I'll Laugh Till I Cry/ NATURAL RESOURCES: If There Were No You/ THE NEW EXPERIENCE: Never Felt This Way Before/ THE OVATIONS: You're My Little Girl (Gotta Get Free-Edit)/ GREG PERRY: It Takes Heart/ THE PRETENDERS: It's Everything About You That I Love/ ALVIN ROBINSON: I've Never Been In Love Before/ GEORGE SOULE: Midnight Affair/ ELAYNE STARR: Night After Night/ STREET PEOPLE: Baby, You Got It All/ VIOLA WILLS: I've Got News For You/ OBREY WILSON: Daddy Please Stay Home

 
VARIOUS ARTISTS Not Now 301 The Essential Cuba Anthology ● CD $11.98
2 CDs, 50 tracks, 147 mins, strongly recommended
Here's a whole lot of fantastic Cuban music from the golden era of the 1930s - 1950s. Great tracks from the biggies like Tito Puente, Celia Cruz, Machito, Perez Prada, and Desi Arnez (although I think we would have been fine if they left off Babalu.) Plus, there are a ton of lesser known beauties from the likes of Ibrahim Ferrer long before the Afro-Cuban All Stars or the Buena Vista Social Club, the fantastic Ruben Gonzalez, Mario Bauza, and Chano Pozo, etc, and both of the last have great tracks with Machito. So, all in all, this is a fantastic sampler of classic Cuban music. Not much in the way of liner notes, but a great looking package and great price make up for what it lacks in frills. (JM)

 
VARIOUS ARTISTS Peacock 1601 Peacock R&B Kings, Vol. 1 ● CD $16.98
24 tracks, recommended
A collection of obscure R&B sides released on Don Robey's mighty Peacock label between 1950 and 1958. There have been a number of great reissues of material from the Peacock label in the last decade and it seems like most of the best stuff has already seen the light of day since some of the material here seems to be scraping the bottom of the barrel. The first four tracks are the best here with some solid blues shouting from Smilin "Smokey" Lynn (with Pee Wee Crayton on guitar) and Lloyd "Fat-Man" Smith and a tough urban blues from Paul Monday. There are also a couple of fine tracks from "Billy" Brooks with the Pluma Davis Orchestra. The set also features the rare single by the legendary Pete "Guitar" Lewis - one side is a harmonica instrumenbtal and the other is a terrible vocal by Lewis which both show why his sobrquet was "Guitar." Harold Conner is a decent singer and his Come Back, Come Back features some tough guitar from Roy Gaines bbut his other three sides are pretty forgettable. There are six cuts by Elmore Morris - a pretty undistinguished singer who has one very good song and five that are not very good. The set is rounded out by unmemorable cuts from Arthur Prysock and Tommy Mosley. About half the cuts here would give this a highly recommended rating but the rest drag it down. (FS)
BILLY BROOKS WITH PLUMA DAVIS BAND: I Called My Baby/ What Can I Do?/ HAROLD CONNER WITH BILL HARVEY ORCH.: Don't Be No Fool/ Your Magic Kiss/ HAROLD CONNER WITH PHINEAS NEWBORN, SR. ORCH.: Come Back, Come Back/ I'm Feelin' So Bad/ AL GREY & HIS ORCH.: Over And Under/ PETE "GUITAR" LEWIS & HIS ORCH.: B+Ack Door Troubles/ Going Crazy/ SMILIN' "SMOKEY" LYNN WITH WALLACE SANFORD'S ORCH.: Goin' Back Home/ Unfaithful Woman/ PAUL MONDAY WITH BILL HARVEY ORCH.: If You Were Mine/ ELMORE MORRIS & HIS BAND: After It's Too Late/ Sincerely Forever/ ELMORE MORRIS & JOE SCOTT'S ORCH.: Darling, Depend On Me/ Don't Let It End This Way/ ELMORE MORRIS WITH JOHNNY BOARD & ORCH.: Hurting All The Time/ Indeed I Do/ TOMMY MOSLEY & HIS BAND: Concerto To The Blues/ Love You ('Til The End Of Time)/ TOMMY MOSLEY WITH SAMMY LOWE ORCH.: Somebody Else Walked In/ ARTHUR PRYSOCK WITH JOHN W. PATE, SR. ORCH.: There Goes The Mailman/ ARTHUR PRYSOCK WITH JOHN W. PATE ORCH.: Too Long I've Waited/ LLOYD "FAT-MAN" SMITH & ORCH.: No Better For You

 
VARIOUS ARTISTS Regal 3302B Regal Records - The R&B Years, Vol. 2 ● CD $16.98
24 tracks, highly recommended
Complementing Regal 3201 this is another superb collection of blues and R&B recorded for Jules & David Braun's Regal label in 1949 and 1950. The label had an early presence in New Orleans thanks of the presence of talent scount, producer and bandleader Paul Gayten and he is featured on two superb cuts cut in N.O. - one backing vocalist Larry Darnell. There are also cuts by Gayten and his band and vocalists Annie Laurie and Sammy Cotton cut on the East Coast that are equally fine. Regal licensed in some recordings cut in Chicago and there are superb sides here from 1950 by Eddie Boyd and Roosevelt Sykes. Other excellent artists include Chubby (Hip Shakin') Newsome, Floyd Taylor & His Band (a rockin' R&B rendition of Loch Lomond!) and more. There are also two fabulous gospel sides by The Jubilators (actually The Selah Jubilee Singers) featuring Eugene Mumford, Thurmon Ruth, Alden Bunn (later known as Tarheel Slim) and others. A terrific collection with excellent sound. (FS)
EDDIE BOYD: I Gotta Find My Baby/ Why Don't You Be Wise, Baby/ SAMMY COTTON: It's So Hard/ You've Been Mistreating Me/ Cool Playin' Mama/ Heart Full Of Pain/ LARRY DARNELL & ORCH.: God Bless The Child/ PAUL GAYTEN & BAND: Creole Gal/ PAUL GAYTEN & HIS ORCH.: Cook's Tour/ Gold Ain't Everything/ Suzette/ Yeah! Yeah! Yeah!/ THE JUBILATORS: Mother Called My Name/ Seek And Ye Shall Find/ ANNIE LAURIE WITH PAUL GAYTEN ORCH.: Cuttin Out/ My Rough And Ready Man/ CHUBBY NEWSOME: Poor Dog/ You Better Find A Job/ VANITA SMYTHE: Until I Fell For You/ You Got Me Crying Again/ ROOSEVELT SYKES: Drivin' Wheel/ West Helena Blues/ FLOYD TAYLOR & HIS BAND: Barbeque/ Loch Lomond

 
VARIOUS ARTISTS Righteous PSALM 23:23 Jukebox At The Last Chance Saloon ● CD $15.98 $10.98
23 tracks, recommended
Twenty-three toe-tappin' tracks of instrumental country music from the '50's, much of it in the Western Swing genre (a la Jimmy Bryant/ Speedy West), with a heapin' helpin' of bluegrass, blues, and a spot of laid-back, Chet Atkins style pickers. A lot of guitar work here, with piano, mandolin, fiddle, banjo, and steel guitar given time to shine. Some exceptional playing in places - check out Joe Maphis' guitar calisthenics on "Fire on the Strings", for example. Imagine yourself at an old roadside caf‚ back in the 50s. Includes sides by Eddie Eddings, Jackie Pehlps, Al Petty With The Rainbow Riders, Arthur "Guitar Boogie" Smith, Jackson & Buddy Emmons, The Musical-Aires, Buck Ryan, Buzz Busby, Thumbs Carlisle, Ernest V. Stoneman & The Stoneman Family and others. Most tracks appear on Cd for the first time. (JM)
BUZZ BUSBY: Banjo Whiz/ BILLY BYRD: Teenage Blues/ THUMBS CARLILLE: Thumbs Guitar Boogie/ LINK DAVIS: Waltz Of The Jambalaya/ BUDDY DEE: Country Rockin' And Flyin'/ EDDIE EDDINGS: Country Guitar/ JACKSON AND BUDDY EMMONS: Fort Worth Drag Shot/ HARDROCK GUNTER: Memphis/ JOE MAPHIS: Fire On The Strings/ LEON MCAULIFF AND HIS CIMARRON BOYS: Boogie On Strings/ THE MUSICAL-AIRES: Skip Along Guitar/ AL PETTY WITH THE RAINBOW RIDERS: Steel Guitar Special/ JACKIE PHELPS: Alabam/ Guitar Cannonball/ Ham And Biscuits/ Tennessee Strings/ HERBIE REMINGTON: Station Break/ BUCK RYAN: Nervous Breakdown/ ALLEN SHELTON: Bending The Strings/ ARTHUR 'GUITAR BOOGIE' SMITH: Boogie Battle/ THE STANLEY BROTHERS: Fling Ding/ ERNEST V. STONEMAN AND THE STONEMAN FAMILY: Orange Blossom Breakdown/ BILL WIMBERLY: Missouri Drag

 
VARIOUS ARTISTS Rockbeat 3255 Groove & Grind - Rare Soul ● CD $47.98
4 CDs, 112 tracks, very highly recommended
Here's a box set for hard core soul/ R&B fans: this set claims to have limited the songs contained herein to tracks that haven't been on legitimate compact disc before. So what we have here are more than 100 rare sides that have been helpfully lumped together on four themed discs. Disc one contains some of the rarest releases, and is dedicated to urban soul; tasty tidbits include The Jelly Beans' I'm Hip to You, King Floyd's Walkin' and Thinkin', Tommy Hunt's Searchin' For Love, Billy McGregor's Mr. Shy, and Kenny Gamble and The Romeos' Hard to Find the Right Girl. Disc Two is all about vocal groups, including The Tempos' (Countdown) Here I Come, The Specials' You Stood Me Up, The New Young Hearts' The Young Hearts Get Lonely Too, and The Sweet Things' I'm In a World of Trouble. The third disc is stuffed to the brim with southern deep soul and the testifying is hot and heavy courtesy of Candi Staton, Jay Wiggins, Betty Wright, Sam Dees, Eddie Floyd, Carla Thomas, and Sir Mack Rice. Finally, the fourth disc funks things up into dance-floor frenzy, with "Pep" Brown, The Interpertations, Noble Watts, Richard Knight, Maskman and the Agents, Dave Mitchell & the Screamers, and King Earnest leading the charge. The four CDs are bound in a 7"x7" hardbound book with 124 pages detailed notes on every track by soul expert Bill Dahl and loads of mouth watering label shots. There's so much goodness in this set that it's impossible to get through it all in one sitting; suffice to say there is no way any self-respecting soul lover can do without this box set. (GMC)
GAIL ANDERSON: They're Laughing At Me/ ROY ARLINGTON: Everybody Makes A Mistake Sometimes/ THE ASCOTS: Miss Heartbreaker/ JACKIE AVERY: Understanding/ JOAN BAKER: Everybody's Talking/ BIG ELLA: The Queen/ AL 'TNT' BRAGGS: I'm A Good Man/ LITTLE GENIE BROOKS: The James Brown Boogaloo/ PAT BROWN: The Good Got To Suffer With The Bad/ PEP BROWN: Can You Handle It/ THE C-QUENTS: It's You And Me/ THE C.O.D’S: Cry No More/ ROCKIE CHARLES & THE LAVONICS: Riccasha/ ISAAC CLARK: Do The Dog Funk/ LOU COURTNEY: I'm Mad About You/ SAM DEES: It's All Wrong (It's All Right)/ THE DELACARDOS: She's the One I Love/ MOSES DILLARD AND THE DYNAMIC SHOWMEN: Pretty As A Picture/ DOWN TO EARTH: Forgive Me If I Cry/ BOBBY DUNN: Do The Bobby Dunn/ THE DYNAMICS: Bingo/ EDWARDS & HIS CONTINENTALS: (On The) Re-e-b-o-u-n-d– Lee/ ELIJAH AND THE EBONIES: I Confess/ THE ESSENE BROTHERHOOD BAND: The Funky Bandwagon/ THE EXSAVEYONS: I Don't Love You No More/ THE FANTASTIC EPICS: We Do It All Up Here (Loosen Up)/ THE FLINT EMERALDS: Just Like A Baby (Mama's Rocking In A Cradle)/ EDDIE FLOYD: Hey Now/ THE FOUR PENNIES: You're A Gas With Your Trash/ THE FOUR PERFECTIONS: I'm Not Strong Enough/ KENNY GAMBLE AND THE ROMEOS: Hard To Find The Right Girl/ DON GARDNER: My Baby Likes To Boogaloo/ PEARLEAN GRAY AND THE PASSENGERS: I Don't Want To Cry/ SONNY GREEN: People Talking About Me/ BUDDY GRUBBS: I'm Telling You/ NAT HALL WITH THE MELLOW 3: A Broken Hearted Clown/ DONALD HEIGHT: My Baby's Gone/ LLOYD HENDRICKS: The Sno-Cone/ JESSIE HILL: Free And Easy/ THE HOLIDAYS: Loves Creeping Up On Me/ TOMMY HUNT: Searchin' For Love/ SAM HUTCHINS: I Can't Stop Crying/ ROY HYTOWER: ItMust Be Love/ THE INTERPRETATIONS: Soul Affection/ IRONING BOARD SAM: Original Funky Bell Bottoms/ BIG DEE IRWIN: Follow My Heart/ CHET 'POISON' IVEY AND HIS FABULOUS AVENGERS: The Poo Poo Man/ COOKIE JACKSON: Suffer/ JESSIE JAMES: Are You Gonna Leave Me/ THE JELLY BEANS: I'm Hip To You/ JERRY & EDDIE AND THE TORNADOS: Hurry Up Little Girl/ BOBBY JONES: I've Got A Habit (Of Lovin' You)/ MARGIE JOSEPH: Show Me/ THEOLA KILGORE: He's Coming Back To Me/ KING EARNEST: The Soul Stroke (Can You Handle It)/ KING FLOYD: Walkin' And Thinkin'/ RICHARD KNIGHT: Show Stopper/ HOAGY LANDS: Do You Know What Life Is All About/ CHARLES LATTIMORE: Do the thing/ BETTY LAVETTE: Almost/ LITTLE FRANKIE LEE: I Gotta Come Back/ PAT LEWIS: No One To Love/ LITTLE BEN & THE CHEERS: Beggar Of Love/ LITTLE CHARLES & THE SIDEWINDERS: Got My Own Thing Going/ MAD DOG & THE PUPS: Hep Squeeze/ MAGIC SAM: I'll Pay You Back/ THE MANDELLS: There Will Be Tears Pt. 1/ MASKMAN AND THE AGENTS: Ratty Ratty/ TONY MATHEWS: Don't Hurt Me No More/ MATT 'TI' MATTISON & THE MINIT MEN: Don't Make Me Cry/ WILLY MCDOUGAL: Don't Turn Away/ BILLY MCGREGOR: Mr Shy/ DAVE MITCHELL & THE SCREAMERS: The Trip/ LITTLE JOE MIXON: What You See Is What You Get/ THE MONTCLAIRS: Never Ending Love/ THE NEW YOUNG HEARTS: The Young Hearts Get Lonely Too/ JACKIE OWENS: Love That Guy/ THE PACE SETTERS: Victim Of Loneliness/ BOBBY PARKER: Get Right/ WINFIELD PARKER: Mr Clean/ THE PEOPLE’S CHOICE: Savin' My Lovin' For You/ THE PROFILES: Got to Be Your Lover/ SIR MACK RICE: Gotta Have My Baby's Love/ ALVIN ROBINSON: You Brought My Heart Right Down To My Knees/ BOBBY RUSH: Wake up/ BILLY SHA-RAE: Do It/ THE SHADES OF SENSATION: But Then You Left Me/ REGGIE SMITH: Soul Walkin'/ WILLIE SMITH: I Got A New Thing/ THE SOUL SHAKERS: Big Train/ THE SOUNDS FOUR: A Memory Best Forgotten/ THE SPECIALS: You Stood Me Up/ CANDI STATON: Now You've Got The Upper Hand/ THE SWEET THINGS: I'm In A World Of Trouble/ THE TEMPOS: (Countdown) Here I Come/ THE TENTH DYMENTIONS: The Bushman/ CARLA THOMAS: Every Ounce Of Strength/ IKE & TINA TURNER: You Can't Miss Nothing That You Never Had/ TYRONE (THE WONDER BOY): Please Consider Me/ LEZLI VALENTINE: Love On A Two Way Street/ THE VERSATILES: You're Good Enough For Me/ THE VONTASTICS: Peace of Mind/ THE VOWS: Say You'll Be Mine/ L.J. WAITERS: I'm A Lonely Man/ ELLA WASHINGTON: The Grass Is Always Greener (On The Opposite Side Of The Fence)/ NOBLE WATTS: L.A./ THE WEBS: Keep Your Love Strong/ JAY WIGGINS: Forgive Then Forget/ RUBY WINTERS: I Don't Want To Hurt Nobody/ DANNY WOODS: You Had Me Fooled/ BETTY WRIGHT: Mr Lucky/ BILLY YOUNG: Still My Life Through

 
VARIOUS ARTISTS Rockbeat 3314 Hulaland - The Golden Age Of Hawaiian Music ● CD $55.98
Four CDs, 104 tracks, highly recommended
A great collection of Hawaiian and Hawaiian influenced music recorded between 1927 and the present day. Each of the four CDs has a different theme. The first disc features original Hawaiian steel guitar music, slack key music as well as the impact of Hawaiian music on the mainland and features recordings from 1931 to 1957 with contributrions by Louis Armstrong, Rudy Wairata & Mena Moeira Mionstrela, Jo Stafford, Ukulele Ike, Burns & Allen, Andy Iona & His Isanders, Gino Bordin, Felix Mendelsson's Hawaiian Serenaders, Speedy West & Jimmy Bryant and others. The second disc "Splendor In The Grass" is devoted to Tiki and Exotica recorded between 1958 and 1974 and in addition to the theme music from "Hawaiian Eye" and "Hawaii Five-O" it includes contributions from Arthur Lyman, Walt Steenhuis (a Dutch steel guitarist doing a rendition of Fleetwood Mac's Albatross!), The Lincoln Trio, Martin DEnny, The Original Hula Hawaiians, Santo & Johnny, Earl Grant, Billy Mure and others. The third disc features 26 recordings from the real Golden Age of Hawaiian Music with tracks recorded between 1927 and 1940 featuring steel guitar gem from the Honolulu Serenaders, King Bennie Nawahi, Sol K. Bright & His Hollywaiians, Sam Ku West, Kalama's Quartet and others. The final disc features recording made in recent years of groups performing Hawaiian based music from the 20s through the 50s - Ken and Bob, Robert Armstrong and Sourdough Slim, Janet Klein and The Parlor Boys and others. Sound quality is superb and the four CDs come packaged in a 100 page hard cover book with notes and hundreds of illustrations, many in ful color, of artists, sheet music, label shots, album copvers and more including several great cartoon strips by compiler Robert Armstrong. (FS)

 

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